SPEOTYTO CUNICULARIA. 279 



This family of Owls which is characterised by the long, nearly naked tarsus and short 

 tail, is evidently closely allied to the preceding group; just how closely, I cannot deter- 

 mine in a manner quite satisfactory to myself as I have never made a dissection of one. 

 Nor have I seen any of the bones; I have, however, ventured to give the number of mar- 

 ginal indentations as four as it does not appear probable that these birds are related to the 

 Disked Owls which have only two. In preparing these articles on the Owls, I am indebted 

 to Messrs. J. W. Knowlton and F. II. Brackett and the Bangs Brothers for the privilege 

 of using specimens from their collections. 



GENUS I. SPEOTYTO. THE LONG-LEGGED OWLS. 



GKX. Cn. Tail, short, not being equalin lenylh to one half the winys which are considerably elongated. Tarsus and tib- 

 ia, very tony. Head, small. 



Members of this ircnus are quite small and the plumage is short and compact but not downy. The eyes are compara- 

 tively small anil are yellow in color. The legs are strikingly long enabling the birds to walk with ease upon the ground. 

 There is but one species within our limits. 



SPEOTYTO CUNICULARIA. 



Burrowing Owl. 

 Stria: cuntatlaria MOLINA, Sagg. Stor. Nat. Chili; 1782. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form, slender. Size, not large. Bill and claws, not long, the former is stout but the latter are slender and 

 are nut very sharp. 



COLOR. Adult. Above, including wings, tail, upper wing and tail coverts, uniform yellowish-brown, barred and spot- 

 ted everywhere with yellowish-white. The face, is white and dusky, mixed. Beneath, including under wingnnd tail cov- 

 erts, yellowish-white, transversely barred, on a band across the throat and on the breast, sides, and flanks with light red- 

 dish-brown. 



Youny. Quite similar to the adult but are generally darker. Tibia, reddish-white, barred with brownish and the feath- 

 ers below how traces of rufous. 



Nr.itlinyn. Are at first covered with a reddish down, and in time, gradually assume the plumage last described. Iris 

 and soles of feet, yellow, bill, also yellow, darker at base and on lower mandible, cere, greenish, and claws, dark-brown, in 

 all stages. Sexes, similar in color. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



There appears to be considerable variation in skins, some being darker than others but this may be due to age. Some 

 specimens also have the tarsus feathered more than others, which character, together with variation in size, has been con- 

 sidered, by some authors, of sufficient importance to entitle their possessors to specific rank, or at least to a varietal name. 

 Known from all other species by the long tarsus and short tail, together with the colors as described. Distributed, as a 

 constant rcsii lent, throughout Western United States, Mexico, South America, and in a restricted area in Western Florida. 

 Accidental in Eastern Massachusetts. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of male specimens from Western United States. Length, 9-50; stretch, 22-50; wing, 7-00; tail, 

 3-50: bill, '55: tarsus, 170. LoBgaH fpeoiaiaa, 10*03; graateli extent of win^, '23 -Oft; longest wing, 7-. r >. r >; tail, 4'00; bill, 

 00; tarsus, 1 75. Shortest specimen, 9'00; smallest extent of wing, 22-00; shortest wing, 6'50; tail, 3-00; bill, '50; tarsus, 

 1-65. 



Average measurements of female specimens. Length, 10-00; stretch, 22-50; wing, 7'50; tail, 4-00; bill, '60; tarsus, 

 1-75. Longest specimen. 10'50; greatest extent of win;,', 23-50; longest wing, 8'00; tail, 4'50; bill, '65; tarsas, 1'80. Short- 

 est specimen, 9'50; smallest extent of wing, 23-00; shortest wing, 7 00; tail, 3-50; bill, '55; tarsus, 1'75. 



